Poor understanding of allergen management could spell disaster for the food industry, leading to major food scares and costing millions of pounds, according to one industry expert.

Energy drinks manufacturers could find their marketing plans thwarted by the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation, Lucozade-maker GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has warned.

Processors dealing with additives, enzymes and flavourings are likely to see approval processes for them radically alter as a result of changes to EU rules.

After paying a firm to assess the relationship it had with its suppliers, a major food retailer has ditched the resulting report because the feedback from manufacturers turned out to be so negative.

The UK soft drinks market posted 3.6% volume growth to 14,345M litres in 2006, with retail sales worth £12.9bn.

Grocery think tank IGD has highlighted three key performance indicators to minimise the environmental impact of transporting goods.

The CIAA, trade body for the European food and drink industry, has named Mella Frewen as its next director general. Frewen has been in the agri-food sector for 20 years and was most recently director of government affairs - Europe & Africa at Monsanto. She replaces Daniela Israelachwili on July 2.

Asda has announced its commitment to extend its Buy British policy, predicting demand for British beef will rise by 12% in its stores in 2008.

John Harris, chief executive of Nestlé Purina Europe, is to take over from Carlo Donati as chief executive of Nestlé Waters, based in Paris, on December 1 2007.

Nutrition experts have accused the food industry of threatening the health and wellbeing of vulnerable sectors of society by making foods of increasingly insignificant nutritional value.

Diacylglycerols or 'DAG' oils could offer hope to bakers struggling to cut saturated fat in products, according to Leatherhead Food International (LFI).

Cadbury Schweppes has become the latest manufacturer to launch an initiative under the Schools Challenge scheme, promoted by food and drink sector skills council Improve.

The government's Food Industry Sustainability Strategy Review (FISS) website is now live. Five 'Champions' Groups' have posted reports making proposals on encouraging sustainability regarding Energy Use and Climate Change, Ethical Trading, Food Transportation, Waste, and Water. Food and drink manufacturers, among others, are invited to post comments within 12 weeks. Ministers and officials will use the feedback to help devise an action plan for industry.

Vic Phimister, general manager of value added premium meat product producer GAA, is the prize draw winner of the Food Manufacture 'state-of-the-industry' survey conducted during May this year (see the results on p58). His prize is a Video iPod.

Global launches of products claiming to boost mental function grew by 60% between 2005 and 2006, while launches between January and May 2007 already outnumber those for the whole of 2006, according to new research from Mintel.

Paterson Arran has become the first independent Scottish food manufacturer to adopt the Food Standards Agency's traffic light signposting scheme with the launch of Bronte Organic, a new range of cookies.

The Encycle process described in the article 'Landfill food waste ban set to raise manufacturers' costs, published on p4 of the June issue of Food Manufacture, is not an anaerobic digestion process but a thermo-mechanical process, which converts food and packaging waste into a dry biomass fuel. This is subsequently converted into gas which is then used to generate electricity. Since gaining planning permission in June, construction of the plant near Immingham is expected to start in October this year with completion scheduled for around October 2008.

Major technical and regulatory challenges need to be overcome if manufacturers are to achieve Food Standards Agency (FSA) targets for reducing saturated fat intakes, according to the expert it commissioned to assess the feasibility of its plans.

The future for shareholders at troubled baker Inter Link Foods was looking grim as Food Manufacture went to press, with sources close to the firm claiming its bankers were likely to sell off the assets rather than wait for it to trade itself out of trouble, leaving shareholders with nothing.

Competition in the flexible automated food picking sector is set to drive down the costs of robots further, thanks to a new machine from Fanuc Robotics.

There would be "considerable benefits in terms of complementary products, increased sales and efficiency improvements" were Tangerine Confectionery to acquire Cadbury's Monkhill own-label sweets business, according to bosses at Tangerine. The firm, which turns over £60M from four UK sites, said it was "widely seen as the obvious buyer".

Health, wellbeing and sustainable packaging will be at the top of the British Soft Drink Association's (BSDA's) agenda in the coming year, according to its newly appointed chairman Paul Moody.

Potato processor McCain claims to be the first major food manufacturer to use wind turbines to generate a significant amount of electricity.

A surge of product development with goji berries is expected this year following a Food Standards Agency (FSA) decision enabling them to remain on the market in Europe without having to seek approval under the Novel Food Regulation.

Children under 12-years old are being targeted by the EU White Paper on Nutrition and Physical Activity, which was adopted at the end of May to tackle Europe's obesity epidemic.

Food Standards Agency (FSA) chief executive John Harwood has stressed whole-fat milk is not meant to fall foul of the new nutrient rules governing what food and drink can be advertised on broadcast media to children.

It's your last chance to enter the seventh annual Food Manufacture Excellence Awards, as the final closing date for entries, June 29, has arrived.

Given the critical importance of hygiene in food preparation, it is astonishing that the European Commission should contemplate exempting small food businesses from Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles for hazard control under the EC Hygiene Regulation.

Sir

Sir

Kepak Convenience Foods is on a mission to improve product quality in its Rustlers range.

The Cotswold Food Partnership (CFP) has launched a new division that offers food companies a complete 'concept to shelf' product development service.

Recent changes to trading standards legislation now prevent food manufacturers from using Marc de Champagne - an alcohol distilled from champagne grapes - in recipes to achieve champagne status.

In a first for the UK desserts sector, Paignton-based Riviera Desserts (part of Uniq) has launched a new range of dairy-free soya desserts aimed at 'yummy mummies'.

Rubicon has launched into the functional foods market with its Papaya Exotic juice drink, which contains lutein - a phytochemical found naturally in papayas.

While out food shopping last Christmas, I had to do a double take. Browsing the seasonal party snacks section my eyes fell upon a turkey & cranberry ... flavoured dog bone at the end of the aisle. I raised a wry smile and tried to visualise the 'consumer panel' conducted to get the product to market.

Bio-Synergy's Skinny Water promises to help women feel more confident in their bikinis with its weight loss water.

Fresh! Naturally Organic is also targeting weight-conscious women with its compostable-packaged sandwich and salad combo.

Love Foods has developed a range of vegetarian ready meals, which substitute soya for egg, fish and meat.

Vegetable processors could benefit from new technology, which can turn potato waste into a valuable protein.

Bakers looking to help consumers stay fuller for longer could benefit from ingredients manufacturer Macphie's new range of low glycaemic index (GI) ingredients.

No I'm not referring to the weather, but the speed at which the time to sort out product labelling is disappearing under the new claims and fortification legislation.

Antimicrobial surface treatment of whole chickens following slaughter could be used to ensure any bacterial contamination with campylobacter is removed, if new draft European regulations receive approval.

Park Royal-based American Muffin Co has worked with the London Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) on effective factory layout, following a move into larger premises.

As 'lean organisations' become 'stretched organisations' the time to nurture and meet the needs of our people has diminished, if not disappeared.

New products, lower costs and increased concern over food wastage are rapidly eroding UK retailers' resistance to time temperature indicators (TTIs), say suppliers.

Compostable meat packaging, said to tackle the problem of product discolouration, while also being cost-competitive, will be on supermarket shelves this summer, says supplier Sirane.

Wine importer Bottle Green say its use of Tetra Prisma Aseptic cartons for branded Australian wines is a victory for the environment - and quality.

Amcor PET Packaging says its new Xamos barrier material will challenge many existing packs used for long-life milk and other light-sensitive dairy products.

Cuts of 20% in the £1.9bn social and environmental costs of domestic food transport by 2012 - between suppliers and supermarket shelves - are achievable, an industry group advising the government has concluded.

I have a fundamental problem with some of the traditional measures and key performance indicators in place in companies, because they do not always reflect the real costs in the businesses' supply chain. With margins in the food industry being under constant pressure, wouldn't you want an accurate picture of how much it costs you to do business? Take the cost of holding stock as an example.

Once upon a time logging on to chat rooms was a novel thrill experienced mainly in the murky corners of internet cafés. Now, international businesses are engaging in all kinds of online interaction to generate ideas and the food industry is in danger of being left behind.

Ken Brook-Chrispin, chief executive and chairman, Seabrook Crisps

Most people do not like being told how to run their business. But when former director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Sir Digby Jones stands up and tells the plastics packaging industry how to fight its corner in an ever-tougher retail world, people listen.

It takes imagination and intelligence, passion and perseverance; not to mention outstanding people from a range of disciplines working closely together to ensure success in today's food and drink manufacturing world. Life is tough out there: customers are demanding; consumers are fickle; regulatory and cost burdens seem never ending - and the tabloids never miss a chance to pillory you!

Yes, it does sound like the latest, hazy eco-buzz phrase, but sustainable development is an enduring hot topic for business. The UK's food manufacturing clusters are ideally positioned to place it at the heart of their business. It makes perfect sense - companies within them already share resources, such as research and development, waste management and training to maximise efficiency.

Anyone who attends a slick demonstration of a snazzy product by a professional IT sales person will probably come away convinced it requires only seamless implementation to solve a myriad of business problems.

People often make instinctual predictions, claiming to 'feel it in their bones', so it is an unfortunate irony that even the most psychically gifted don't see (or feel) osteoporosis coming.

Purac has developed a ready-to-use calcium ingredient for use in acidic beverages such as fruit juices and acidified dairy drinks.

Yoplait Dairy Crest (YDC) is launching Petits Filous Plus probiotic yoghurt drinks to increase the brand's appeal among children aged four to nine.

Mums hoping to keep their kids' bones in peak condition may be interested in Blackcurrant & Liquorice Calcium Bonus water.

Ingredients supplier Marigot, which specialises in the production of natural mineral products, has added to its Aquamin range.

As any estate agent will tell you, property values are determined by 'location, location, location'. If your house is deemed to be in the right place, it will sell at a premium.

Food processors can control the speed of conveyor belts with ABB's latest machinery drive, which the firm claims is the most adaptable in the market. The drive allows control of synchronous or asynchronous motors, with an open loop or closed loop design, and is rated from 0.75kW to 45kW. It uses standard AC drive technology - but with significant performance improvements that could take ABB into the servo performance arena.

Astec Conveyors has helped Walkers Snack Foods increase output at its Leicester plant by modifying its carton handling system.

Tsubaki has introduced a new range of poly-steel food-grade chains in standard BS sizes.

Monk Conveyors has become the sole agent in the UK for Easy Conveyors of Holland.

Krohne's Optimass 1000 Coriolis mass flowmeters are helping to ensure consistent quality of bagels produced at two manufacturing sites owned by a leading UK baker.

Dynawest has introduced a big bag container system to facilitate the support, storage and transport of Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers, commonly known as FIBC bulk bags.

Process automation and industrial robotics specialist Barr & Paatz has been appointed UK robot systems integrator by packaging automation supplier Elau. The move gives Barr & Paatz access to the latest Delta 3 robot, which is ideal for high speed pick-and- place applications, and to the PacDrive automation system for integrating robots into modular machines, which controls more than 30,000 machines worldwide.

The latest addition to the Easiweigh weighing range is a compact high-speed, twin lane optical counting system with the versatility to be used as either an optical counting machine or a weighing system.

A bottling line at GlaxoSmith-Kline's Coleford factory has been upgraded with an enclosed bottle dryer that is more efficient and quieter than its predecessor.

The processing of eggs for use in the manufacture of liquid and powdered egg products is an established industry worldwide.

US-based Key Technology has introduced a fluorescence-sensing laser sorter that uses the level of chlorophyll, as well as colour, size, and shape to detect and remove defects, unwanted vegetable matter and foreign material from food.

Food equipment and ingredients specialist Interfood Technology has extended its food processing equipment range with the announcement that it has been appointed as the sole distributor in the UK and Ireland for Inotec's range of emulsifiers, mixers and blenders and sausage-link cutting and clip-cutting machinery.

Functional food is rarely out of the headlines and with listings in 20 European countries as well as South America, Danone's Actimel is the world's biggest immunity brand.

The latest review from the Campden & Chorleywood Food Association Group (CCFRA) helps industry staff to understand what causes food discolouration.

The big food guide 2011 looks at market sizes and growth opportunities to discover the major trends for 2011. The directory provides market information on over 90 products in 15 Western European countries. Product categories include: pizzas, sandwiches, ready meals, snacks and confectionery.

The second edition of Quality management: tools and techniques provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of quality assessment.

If the prospect of teaching a group of schoolchildren how to create a delicious product doesn't seem like the best use of your company's time, think again.

There's a whiff of increasing confidence among Britain's food and drink manufacturers - despite continuing pressure from their big retail customers.